Flash-compact



F. SMITH FLASH COMPAQT March 5, 1935.

VFiled Mach 21, 1954 Patented Mar. 5, 1935 FLASH-COMPACT Franky L. Smith, Oakland, Calif., assigner of one-twentieth to Philip A. Friedell and thirty per cent to Emery D. Hamden, both of Oakland, Calif.

Application Max'cllZl, 1934, Serial No. 716,654

9Claims.

This invention is a ilash-compact incorporating the desirable and combined features of a ash light and a compact.

There are many cases where no desirable source of light is available, and under such conditions, the user of the compact must rely on luck or good judgment -as to their appearance. In the majority of instances no other than the available light is required, but where no light or only very poor 'light is available to the user and under such conditions, with my compact a good light may be instantly obtained.

In addition to this, the compact may be used as a ash light when occasion demands, and such use is not acquired by ordinary manipulation of the compact or by the use of an ordinary circuit switch, but by. the same process as when the compact is used for its speciilc purpose.

The main object of the invention therefore, is to provide a compact with associated means for illuminating the features of the user when such auxiliary illumination is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for operating the illuminant by the usual process of operating and using the compact.

A further object of the invention is to provide.-

a compact with integral'lighting means which is only operable by special manipulation of a' part of the compact.

provide a source of light which will be directed vretained in their compartments by the powder.

and rouge receptacles.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the compact in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Figl.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5,-5 ofig. 1 showing the mirror open and the contact mechanism with batteries removed.

Fig. 6 is a modiiication showing the lamp mounted angularly to the axis of the battery.

A still further object of this invention is toI (Cl. 24M- 6.45)

7 is a modification, showing a small compact in which only one battery is used.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view oi' a modification of the invention, showing a simplified contact 5 arrangement, and a lip-stick compartment replacing one of the battery compartments.

The invention consists of a case l0 having a cover 11 which is hinged at 12 and has the usual mirror 13 aflixed thereto or iinished as a mirrored surface on the inside of the cover.

The case is provided with battery chambers to hold the small pen size batteries, one of which 14 is urged by the spring contact 15 against the lamp contact 16 connecting the lamp 1-'7 in cir-- cuit therewith. The other battery 18 is urged by a spring contact 19 against a stop 20, the contact 19 electrically connecting one terminal of the battery to the case 10. 'I'he spring contact 15 is insulated from and affixed to the case 10 as shown at 21, and continuousbeyond this point to form a switch arm 22, the terminal of which is normally spaced from the other terminal of battery 18.

Integral with, and projecting downwardly from the hinge pintle sleeve of the nidi-rer, is a finger 23 provided with insulation 24 on its front face, this iinger folding back when the cover is closed, and engaging the spring 22 when normally open or in normal angle of repose, this spring being of such strength that a little additional pressure backwardly on the mirror from its normal angle of repose as indicated at 25, by the thumb 26 of the hand holding the compact is required to cause the contact 27 to close the circuit through the terminal 28 of the battery 18. For this reason, under ordinary use the lamp will not light, but when a light is desired, it is merely necessary to urge backward deflection .of the mirror by the thumb. As soon as the pressure on the 40 mirror'is released, the mirror and cover return to their normal position extinguishing the light.

'Ihe use of the compact as a flash light is accomplished by merely opening the cover and urging the mirror back from its normal stopping position.

The batteries are retained in their respective compartments bythe powder and rougereceptacles 29 and 30, which are formed in a single unit .and frictionally retained in. position, the side walls thereof cooperating with the sides of the batteries as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. A formed dished, ne mesh screen 31 frictionally ts in the powder compartment and the powder compartment is extended under the more shallow rouge compartment as shown at 32.

In Fig. 6 the most desirable method of mounting the lamp 17 is shown, the lamp being mounted in angular relation to throw the light directly on the face of the user when the features are viewed in the mirror with the mirror opened to its lamp lighting position.

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 7, using only one battery 33, with the lamp 34 located in the front, and the mirror hinged at 35. A finger 36 is provided similar to that in the previous description and makes contact by means of a wiper spring 37 with the wall- 38 of the battery. This spring being formed at its end with an obstructing cam surface, which will ordinarily stop the mirror at a given point, but further backward deflection of the mirror will depress the spring and make the contact.

One terminal of the battery is insulated from the case as shown at 39, the insulation removed at one point on the battery as shown -at 40, and the other terminal 41 of the battery is connected to the lamp contact 42 through a conductor 43 insulated from the case 44 by insulation 45. Otherwise the operation is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 5.v

It will be noted that the type of compact shown in Fig. 1 may be modified by forming one of the battery chambers into a lip stick compartment, using a switch arrangement operating `in the manner of the single cell compact shown in Fig. 7.

This arrangement is shown in Fig. 9 in which the battery 46 is retained in position by the powder case similar to the other styles, the nger 47 on the cover hinge first engages a spring 48 which is afxed to the back wall of the case and further pressure on the cover forces the spring to contact with one terminal of the battery closing the circuit through the case to one terminal of the lamp 17, thence from the other terminal of the lamp through the insulated contact 49 to the other terminal of the battery. The other compartment has a lip stick 50 frictionally or threadedly secured therein.

It will also be noted that a finger operated switch may be installed within the compact, under the cover, whereby the switch cannot accidentally be closed, but requires the opening of the cover to permit access to the switch.

It will be understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts which are consistent with the appended claims may be resorted to Without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination, a compact having a cover provided with a mirror, a battery and a lamp and a circuit therefor normally open when the cover is in normal open position, and means actuated by abnormal opening of the cover'operating to close the battery circuit through the lamp.

2. In combination, a compact having a cover, provided with a mirror, a battery and a lamp and a circuit therefor normally open when the cover is in normal open position, and means actuated by abnormal opening of the cover operating to close thevbattery circuit through the lamp, and a removable powder receptacle frictionally retained in the compact and forming retaining means for retaining the battery in position in the compact.

3. In combination, a compact having a hinged cover provided with a mirror, a battery, a lamp, and circuit making means operable at will when the cover is open and being inaccessible for operation when the cover is closed, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a finger integral with the cover and cooperating with the spring contact when the cover is in a normally open position, further deflection toward open position of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the lamp.

4. In combination, a compact having a cover, a battery and a lamp, and means actuated by abnormal backward deflection of the mirror operating, to close the battery circuit through the lamp, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a finger integral with the cover .and cooperating with the spring contact when the cover is in a normally open position, further deflection toward 4open position of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the lamp.

5. In combination, a com pact having a hinged cover provided with a mirror, a battery and a lamp, and switch means actuated by opening movement of the cover for closing the electric circuit to the lamp, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a finger integral with the cover and cooperating with the spring contact when the cover is in a normally open position, further deflection toward open position of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the. lamp.

6. In combination, a compact having a hinged cover provided with a mirror, a battery, a lamp mounted in the compact in angular position to direct rays of light in angular relation to the axis of the battery, and switch means for completing an electric circuit to the lamp and actuated by the cover when the cover is deflected backwardly from its normal position of repose, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a flnger integral with'the cover and cooperating with the spring contact when the cover is in a normally open position, further deflection of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the lamp.

7. In combination, a compact having a cover, a battery and a lamp and an electric circuit therefor and means accessible only when the cover is in open position and operable at will for closing the circuit through the battery to the lamp, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a finger integral with the cover andcooperating with the spring contact when the cover is in a normally open position, further deflection toward open position of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the lamp.

8. In combination, a compact having a hinged cover provided with a mirror, a battery, a lamp mounted in the compact in angular position to direct rays of light in angular relation to the axis of the battery, and switch means for completing an electric circuit to the lamp and actuated by the cover when the cover is deflected backwardly from its normal position of repose, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a finger integral with the cover and cooperating with the spring contact when the cover is in a normally open position, further deflection of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the lamp, and a removable powder receptacle frictionally retained in the compact and forming retaining means for retaining the battery in position in the compact.

9. In combination,` a casing having a battery compartment, a hinged cover provided with amirror, a battery in the compartment, a powder receptacle removably secured in the casing and forming a closure for the battery compartment for retaining the battery therein, a lamp mounted in the front end of the casing and a normally open electrical circuit and means operable at will for closing the circuit when ythe cover is open, and made inaccessible for operation when the cover is closed, and consisting of a normally open spring contact, and a nger integral with the cover and cooperating with the spring contact when the cover is lin a normally open position, further deflection toward open position of the cover under pressure urging the spring contact to close the circuit through the battery to the 10 lamp.

FRANK L. SMITH. 

